The ruling parties and the agitating Rastirya Janta Party-Nepal  (RJP-N) on Thursday has agreed to postpone the local level election in Province 2 for September 18.

A meeting of the ruling parties—Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre)—and RJP-N convened at Singha Durbar on Thursday reached an agreement to postpone the local polls by about three months. However, the government is yet to officially decide on the proposal.

The leaders of main opposition party CPN-UML were not present during today’s meet. The party was holding its standing committee meeting at Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur.

According to CPN (MC) spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, the agreement between the ruling parties and the RJP-N is just a political decision and that official decision on the matter will be taken by the Cabinet after holding consultations with the Election Commission (EC).

Another round of meeting with the EC is scheduled to take place at 3pm today.

Earlier today, during the meeting with ruling parties, EC had rejected the government’s proposal to postpone the election saying that all preparations had been completed and deferring the elections now would affect the provincial and federal elections.

If the proposal is endorsed, the second phase of election will held only at Provinces 1, 5 and 7.

The agitating Madhes-based party had remained adamant to take part in the second phase of local polls slated for June 28 saying that their demands including constitution amendment, increment of local units among others should be addressed prior to the elections.